Elizabeth Lane

Attorney Elizabeth Lane has over 35 years of experience in municipal law, specializing in land use law across a broad spectrum, including zoning, subdivision control, wetlands and environmental protection. In addition, Attorney Lane is a highly experienced general municipal law practitioner, who has represented municipalities both large and small, with the resultant diversity of issues and problems such communities present. As a counselor, she has written numerous opinions on land use and general municipal topics, and as a litigator, has represented numerous municipal clients in litigation before state and federal courts and agencies, including appeals, dispute resolution and settlement negotiation, and has won clients appellate decisions establishing favorable precedent for municipalities throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Attorney Lane’s experience also includes negotiation of complex land development agreements, land use planning assistance and agreements for lease, sale and acquisition of real estate, and the transfer and restriction of development rights. A particular area of concentration is drafting local zoning and general legislation and regulations to suit novel or complex situations, and obtaining special legislation to address special situations. Attorney Lane specializes in crafting amendments to modernize or streamline local bylaws and ordinance and tailor them to the particular needs of a community. Specialties include drafting and amending local law in the sensitive and demanding land use areas of sign regulation, earth removal and groundwater protection.

In the area of general municipal law, Attorney Lane specializes in municipal finance; open meeting and public records law; conflict of interest; town meeting and local regulatory enforcement.